Mayuto Correa

Life and career

Correa was born in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro and began playing in local bands from the age of 12 when he became a member of the big band Rapazes da Alvorada. At age 16 he formed the ensemble Samba Show with musicians from Niterói and made several recordings for the CBS label with them. He also played for the under-17 squad of the Brazil national football team. In the 1960s Correa was the artistic director of Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro where he wrote and directed several plays. During this time, he also made several recordings in Brazil and worked as the musical director for the shows of Maria Bethânia, Elza Soares, and Eliana Pittman as well as playing in Roberto Carlos's ensemble RC-7 and performing in Chacrinha's television shows.

In 1969 he left Brazil for Mexico where he worked with the Brazilian bossa nova group Tamba 4 before moving to the United States. He established himself as a musician in Los Angeles in the early 1970s. According to jazz writer Leonard Feather, Correa had become "a vital figure in hundreds of major and minor albums taped in Los Angeles" by 1977. During that period he also toured live with many of the artists with whom he recorded and became the record producer for the Argentine group Arco Iris. He returned to Brazil in 1972 when he was touring with Carlos Santana and again in 1979 when he appeared on the Rede Globo television show Sexta Super.

Among his compositions is the soundtrack for the 1979 documentary Homeboys depicting Chicano youth gang culture in East Los Angeles. In the later years of his career Correa has performed with his bands Mayuto & Genuises 2000, Mayuto & The Dream Team Big Band, and Mayuto & Samba Pack. He has also had small acting roles in the film Redeemed (2014) and the television series Community (2015).

Discography

Correa's extensive discography as a percussionist includes: